You can’t head to the South and not get a craving for some fine southern cookin’. And you can’t head to the coast without tasting a sampling of some fine, fresh seafood. That makes Hilton Head, as a southern coastal state, a prime spot for delicious, southern-cooked seafood dishes. Here are some of the dishes you should definitely try and where to find them.

Oysters

Hilton Head is probably most famous for their oysters, so you can’t leave the island without trying some. So much so that in the late summer, you’ll find the Hilton Head Oyster festival, one of the most popular festivals of the year.

Where to try them: Bluffton Family Seafood House

Shrimp ’n’ Grits

Anytime you head to the south, you can’t get away without having some grits. Now, don’t make that face. If you’ve ever tried some good southern grits, you know what I’m talking about. Throw in that fresh-caught shrimp from the bay, and you can’t beat it.

Where to try them: Salty Dog Café

Seafood Chowder

Chowder makes a delicious, filling side dish for just about any meal. And how can you pass up a seafood chowder where the seafood was caught just about ten feet away from the restaurant?

Where to try it: The Skull Creek Boathouse

Crab Cakes

Just say it—crab cakes. You know you want some. You can’t go wrong with fresh, mouthwatering crab straight from the sea. More crab, less filler.

Where to try it: Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks

One thing you can be sure of when you come to Hilton Head: you’ll eat extremely well if you’re a seafood lover. So save room in your tummy to make sure you can try it all.